Device for rupturing the amniotic membranes



Aug. 12, 1958 R. L. EASTMAN DEVICE FOR RUPTURI-NG THE AMNIOTIC MEMBRANESFiled Oct. 13, 1954 INVENTOR. BObQZ LZwZ W MQYM-Mr Wm 2,847,012PaientedAug; 12, 1958 DEVICE FOR RUPTURING THE'AMNIOTIC MEMBRANES RobertL; Eastman,-Mount Vernon, @hio Application October 13, 1954, Serial No;462,026 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-t303) During the duced into the pregnancyperiod" amniotic fluid is introuterus with the result that when laborbefiuid present, baby may be merely moved from one area to anotherWithin the uterus; Whenthe obstetrician recognizes this condition itis-the usual practice for him to interference from the fluid. It is thecommon practice for the obstetrician to rupture the membrane by aprocedure in which asmall 'pli'er-lik'e instrument, such as an Allifscharacter that injury to the patient or the baby is diflicult child andthe g which does not reduce the degree of sensitivity in the finger orthe hand whereby the device may be manipulated' bytthe-user for engagingthe point with the membrane to rupture the same without danger of injuryto thevaginal. walls, the cerviX,-and/or thebaby.

It is another object of the-invention to provide a device for use inobstetrical examinations which comprises a rubber-like glove for thehand contact with the membrane cervix.

ing drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a glove having incorporated therein theprincipal features of the invention;

Fig.- 2.is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of a portion ofthesend. of the middle finger of the glove showing the membrane.rupturing element thereon;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on-the line 33 of Fig. l, to an enlargedscale;

Fig, 4 is a side elevation'of-a'portion of theend'ofthe middle finger ofthe gloveshowing a modified form of the membrane rupturing member;

Fig. S'is a section similar toFig. 3-illustrating afu'rth'ermodification of the device;

Fig; G'isa sectional viewa of a portion ofthe endof the middletfinger ofthe glove illustrating-a further modi fied form of the device; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view throughth'e body illustrating theme of thedevice.

Inuall operations and-examinations where-there is danger'of infection itis the universal practice for'the operat-' for reasons which will beexplained.

In the form of the device as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 16 is generallyconical in shape A modification is illustrated in Fig. in which the tip41 is of the same generally conical form as the tip 16 with the basethereof recessed at 42 to receive the end of the finger 43 and with themarginal edges 44 joined to the inside and adjacent the end margins ofthe finger forming portions 45 of the glove, the latter being aperturedat the end and the element 41 being secured therein in the form of aninsert. In this form the element 41 may, of course, be preformed of adifferent material than the rubber glove.

In the form of the device illustrated in Fig. 6 the tip 51 may take anyof the shapes illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, and it may be integrally castwith the finger portion 52 of the glove itself or attached thereto inany manner. The base portion of the conical shaped peak or tip 51 isrecessed at 53 to receive the end of the finger 54 and on the insidewall defining the recess 53 there is provided a small protuberance 55which is adapted to be engaged by the end of the fingernail 56 to permitthe tip 51 to be more readily manipulated by movement of the finger 54.

All forms of the glove structure which are described herewith areemployed in the same manner in the surgical operation which isillustrated in Fig. 7. The glove is placed on the hand of the physicianand the fingers are introduced into the vagina 60 with the point or tipformation 16 extending from the finger 13 so that it will be engagedwith the membrane 61. The rupturing of the membrane 61 is accomplished'by pulling the tip 16 across the surface of the same by crooking ormanipulating the finger 20, to puncture or tear the membrane and permitthe fluid 62 to escape through the aperture made in the membrane 61.Draining the fluid from the uterus in this manner not only hastens laborbut also facilitates the dilation of the cervix by the the babys headand contributes to an easier birth.

Generally the tip or point formation will be non-metallic and formed ofthe same material as the glove with the material comprising the tiphaving somewhat greater hardness than the membrane so that it will becapable of tearing or rupturing the membrane and will still not be sosharp or hard as to make it dangerous to the walls of the cervix or thebaby if it is accidentally brought in contact with the same during theoperation.

While specific details of the device and particular materials have beenreferred to in describing the several forms illustrated it will beunderstood that other details of construction and other materials may beresorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A surgical glove adapted for use in an obstetrical operation whichinvolves rupturing the amniotic membrane to release the amniotic fiuidand facilitate childbirth, said glove being formed of a relatively thinpliable and contractible rubber-like sheet material whereby it fits overthe hand of the user and closely conforms to the contour thereof, saidglove having finger enclosing portions and an integral membranerupturing member at the end of one of said finger enclosing portions,said membrane rupturing member comprising a relatively hard generallycone-shaped non-metallic element integrally attached at its base to theglove, which cone-shaped element is formed to provide a relatively hardpointed end projecting from said finger enclosing portion for engagingthe membrane by manipulation of the finger whereby the same may bereadily ruptured.

2. An obstetrical glove for use in rupturing the amniotic membrane torelease the amniotic fluid and hasten childbirth, said glove being'formed of a relatively thin pliable rubber-like material which fitsover the hand of the user and which closely conforms to the contourthereof so that it is frictionally retained thereon, said glove having afinger forming portion and a membrane rupturing member adjacent the endthereof, said membrane rupturing member comprising a projecting elementwhich is integrally attached adjacent its base to the finger formingportion of the glove and which is formed with a relatively hard pointedand somewhat blunt end for engaging the membrane by manipulation of thefinger whereby the same may be ruptured by said element.

3. A glove for surgical use, said glove being formed of a relativelythin pliable and contractible material which fits over the hand of theuser and closely conforms to the contour thereof so that it isfrictionally retained thereon, said glove having an end portion coveringthe fingers of the user and a membrane rupturing member on said endportion comprising an element having a base portion integrally joinedwith said end portion of the glove, said element having a relativelystiff non-metallic pointed end projecting in the direction of the axisof the finger whereby said projecting end may be engaged with anamniotic membrane by manipulation of the fingers of the user to rupturesaid membrane.

4. A surgical device which is adapted to be placed on a finger for usein rupturing the amniotic membrane in an obstetrical operation, saiddevice comprising a finger carried member of relatively thin pliablerubber-like material which closely conforms to the contour of the fingerand which encompasses a substantial end portion of the finger sufiicientto grip the finger and to be frictionally retained thereon, a pointedmembrane rupturing element of relatively hard non-metallic materialintegrally secured at the end of said member, said element having apointed end which is somewhat blunted and which is directed outwardly ofthe end of the finger in the direction of the long axis thereof wherebywhen said pointed end is drawn across the surface of the membrane 'bymanipulation of the finger the membrane will be ruptured.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS612,741 Longden Oct. 18, 1898 2,084,692 Little June 22, 1937 2,157,293Lenta May 9, 1939 2,501,571 Liedtke Mar. 21, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES AnObstetric Ring for Artificial Puncture of the Membranes, from JournalAmerican Medical Association of February 9, 1935, page 462. (Copy inDivision 128-329.)

